elfin

adjective

ˈel-fən How to pronounce elfin (audio)
Definition of elfinnext
as in charismatic
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract the heroine in the story has an elfin beauty that men find irresistible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elfin Meanwhile, as Hjalmar’s 14-year-old daughter, Hedvig, the elfin Maaike Laanstra-Corn is delivering yet another wonderfully eccentric embodiment of a high-strung tween with a potentially perilous excess of imagination. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2025 Numerous species are commercially available, from the culinary classic common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) to colorful flowering groundcovers such as elfin thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and creeping thyme (Thymus praecox). — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2025 In a series of illustrated stories, Lung describes the Labubu as an elfin creature. — Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 The look is elfin, but less shaggy than an elfish cut, often pulled off with a mod, micro-cut bang instead. — Essence, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elfin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elfin
  1. charismatic
  2. charming
  3. appealing
  4. attractive
  5. enchanting
  6. seductive
Adjective
  • Dyrholm plays the charismatic leader Ruth Evensen (now Ruth Kristiansen) who led Fathers House since the 1990s until its official closure as a religious congregation in 2013.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Getting support for measures to save charismatic species can be easier than for others, however.
    — David Ginsburg, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of charismatic
Adjective
  • The charming downtown Banff is about two miles down the road; the hotel offers a free shuttle into town every 30 minutes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Fisher lived in a charming Spanish-style estate high up in the Hollywood Hills, and her mom, at Fisher’s behest, moved into the neighboring cottage.
    — Michael Gioia, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of charming
Adjective
  • But his presence, his apparent delight as adults in scuba suits shoot themselves out of helicopters in pursuit of gold, is part of what makes the show so appealing.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
  • One of the appealing aspects of building an NFL stadium in Inglewood was the speed with which a development agreement could be assembled and approved.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of appealing
Adjective
  • Animosity toward national politics has seeped into town halls, where trust in government is making public service jobs less attractive, said Stephanie Leiser, director of U-M's Center for Local, State and Urban Policy, which conducted the survey.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Despite the restrictions, Jung says Korea is an attractive option for straight couples who want to engage with a medical system that’s fast and efficient.
    — Jessica Poitevien, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of attractive
Adjective
  • Sharing the rooftop with Watr, the pool setting is enchanting, surrounded by gleaming high-rises and overlooking the lake.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The hit Crave original charts the enchanting romance of rival players Russian prodigy Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Canadian golden boy Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams).
    — Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of enchanting
Adjective
  • The shoes appeared similar to the popular DSquared 2 Riri heeled sandals, which are also a sleek, seductive and rebellious style with towering heels and straps that wrap around the foot and ankle with super-thin leather ties.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Andy Warhol, working from a photograph that had appeared in a pinup magazine featuring Mat Queens, created a silk screen of Drexler as Rosa, mid-lunge, at once menacing and seductive.
    — Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of seductive

Browse Nearby Words

elf
elfin
elfish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elfin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elfin. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of emissary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All